Race-starting apparatus.



D. sT-ITZER.

RACE STARTING APPARATUS. APPLIoATIoN FILED 1.111.311. 1907.

PATBNTED 00T. 15, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 868,029. PATENTBD OUT. 15, 1907.

D. sTITZBR. y RACE STARTING APPARATUS.

ArPLIoATIoN FILED JAH. so. 1901.

s sums-snm z.

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UNITED STATES yienTmvT OFFICE. y

DAVID STITZER, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO WILLIAM R.

v HUTCHISON, 'OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

RAGE-STARTING APPARATUS.

`Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 15, 1907.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DvIn S'rrrznn, a citizen of the UnitedStatesresiding at Lexington, in the county of rear gates of the stalls.

Fayette, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Race-'Starting Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relatesvto a race starting apparatus, and particularly toa device where the barriers for the horses are simultaneously released.

The invention has for an object to provide a plurality of stalls eachprovided with a barrier at one end which are adapted to be automaticallyopened and to be simultaneously released by a 'unitary device so as toeffect an even starting at a given signal. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionof such an apparatus so as to permit the ready removal thereof from therace track after the starting so that in subsequent laps there will b eno obstruction to the horses in passing a given starting point.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.;

1n the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a perspective of the apparatus in positionfor use; Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of one of the stall walls with thebarrier in opened position; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the frame ofthis barrier; Fig. 4 is a similar view of the rear gate of the Y stall;Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail elevation of the retaining means for thebarrier. Fig. 6 is a. detail per- Spective of the releasing device forthe barrier; Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section of the retaining andreleasing device for the cross bar between the stall posts, 'and Fig. 8is a detail section of the retaining device for the Like numerals referto like parts in the several views of the drawings.

This invention comprises a plurality of stalls dis'- posed in-alinement`with each other and composed of the side walls 1 which preferablyconsist of the frame 2 covered with a reticulated material 3,-as shownin Fig.

extensions 6 and provided with a pivot Q'upon which, the cross bar ismounted the opposite end 10-of the bar being apertured and adapted toreceive Vthe bolt l1 -at one side of the apparatus.

which extends upward from the extension 6 of the post, as shown, in Fig.7. Thisbo1t/is normally heldin elevated position by means of the spring12 extending betweenI the head 13. of the bolt and the ixed'projection14 of the extension. When it is desired to remove the sides of thestalls, the bolt may be retracted by means of the connection 15extending tothe operating post, and when swung into a horizontalposition retracts the bolt 11.

' Pivotally mounted upon the post is a'barrier frame i 19 which ismounted by means of the bracket -20 at the lower portion thereof and thepivoting sleeve 2l which is secured at the upper portion thereof. Thisbarrier may be padded with any suitable materialfor protection, as shownat 22 in Fig. 1. The barrier is norlnally retained under tension bymeans of the spring 23 surrounding the portion 24 o f its frame andbearing at its end 25 against the post, while its opposite end 2,6engages the frame of the barrier. The frame 27 of this barrier isprovided with a retaining means, for instance, a loop 28 which isadapted to beengaged by a locking rod,29, as shownin Fig. 5. When thisbarrier is in'its open position, as shown in Fig. 2, it is retained bymeans o an extension 30 from the bracket 20 which carries astop lug 31to engage the frame of the barrier, and a spring held latch 32 mo'untedin said extension t`o be depressed by the lower frame of the barrier inits passage thereover, and in itsretraction to engage and hold' thebarrier in open position to prevent rebound against the horse when thebarrier is opened.

" The rod 29 by which the barrier is released is slidably mounted at itsfront in a bearing 33 carried by the sidel walls of the stall, and atits rear end by a similar bear# ing 36 through which it extends. Thecollar 34 is provided with a projecting pin 35 which bears upon thebearing 36, and the collar is provided with an eye 3 7 which is adaptedto receive the operating cord or cable 38 having connections orprojections to engage and simultaneously operate and release the seriesof rods by a. rotative movement thereof and extending to a point I Forthe purpose of antomatically retracting each rod a spring 39 is mountedthereon and extends between the bearing 40 upon the upper surface ofthe' side walll and a 'stop 41-securedto the rod.v By reference to Fig.6' it will be seen that fa, rotative movement of the rod 29 will carrythe pin 35-out of 'engagement' with the projection-12 upon the bearing36 so as to permit alongitudinal movementpf the rod 29 which when it-isfree from engagement withthe barrier permitsthe same to be auto-v gatesbeingi'pivotally mounted upon the rear posts 44 wh1ch rest upon theground, by means of the bearing collars 45 at their lower portion andthe adjustably mounted collars 46 at their upper ends whicli engage alatching lever 49 pivotally mounted at 50 upon or withln the rear post44 and 'provided with a projection 51 to enter the aperture in saidplate.. The lower end of this lever is formed with a retaining portion52 adapted to engage the hook53 which is pivoted at 54u11.

the post and held in engagement with the portion 52 by means ofthecoiled spring 56 extending therefrom to the lnner end 57 oi the lever49. When it is desired to release the parts the hook 53 is withdrawn bymeans oi the connection 58 extending downwardly to the opl erating lever59 pivotally mounted at 60 upon the rear post 44. When this leveristurned into a horizontal position the hook 53 is Withdrawn from thelatch and the spring 56 throws the-same outward so as to immediatelyrelease the plate 48 and permit the rear gate to be automatically thrownopen by the spring 6l mounted thereon and engaging the post 44 to placethe gate under tension.

From the foregoing description the construction and general operation ofthe invention will be apparent, and it will be observed that with theapparatus assembled, as .shown in Fig. l, any desired number oi stallsmay be employed depending upon the number. of horses to be started inthe race, the rear gates thereof being left open so that the horse mayenter. The rear gate is then closed and at the time of starting the'rodscontrolling l the barriers simultaneously operated so that said barriersare automatically thrown open. The apparatus may then be removedentirely from the track by throwing upward the levers controlling the'bolts for the cross bars at the top of the front standards, and alsothe controlling levers for the rear galos which 4when open leave thesides free to be independently removed by the attendants withoutdifiiculty or delay so that in the next lap of the race the track isentirely` tree from obstruction. I

It will( also be observed that both the barriers and gates are carriedby the stall sides so that they4 may be 'assembled in any desirednumber, and the invention presents a simplicity of construction andoperation which avoids any diiiculty in assembling or using the same.

AHaving thus Adescribed my'invention and set forthy lts merits what Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isg.-

1. Iny a device of the class described, a plurality bf side wallsformingparallel stalls, barriers pivotally, mountedr upon said walls, andmeansfoisimultaneously-releasing and opening said barriers.

2.. in a device of the class described, a plurality of side wallsforming parallel stalls, barriers pivotally mounted lupon said'walls/means for simultaneously releasing and opening' said barriers, andmeans for retaining said barriers against rebound when iopenedposition.'

` 3. In a device of the class described, a plurality of inde pendent'side Wallsforming parallel stalls, barriersA movl ably mounted uponsaid walls, means `for simultaneouslyl releasing and opening saidbarriers, and cross bars extending between the posts of said sidesfoi-,detachably connecting/the same laterally. 'i i 4. In a device otthe class described, n plurnlity oi side Walls forming parallel stalls.barriers movably mounted upon said walls, means ifor simultaneouslyreleasing :unl openingr Said barriers, cross bars extending;l betweenthc posts of said sides for connecting the same laterally, und meansdisposed at thc lower portion` of said posts for releasing the same.

5. In a device of the class described, u plurality of sido walls formingparallel stalls, barriers pivoiully mounted upon said rWalls, means forsimultaneously releasing und opening s aid barriers, anrl'1'ea1-gatespivotully mounted upon said sides and provided with mcuns fornulonmiically opening said gatos.

6. In a device of thc clnssdcscribcd, n plurality of side walls formingparallel stalls, barriers movnblyunountcd upon said walls, means forsimultaneously releasing und opening said barriers, roar gates movublymounted upon said sides and means for releasing and automatically opcning said gates.

7. In a device of the class described, side walls provided with frontand rear posts, barriers pivotully mounted upon a front post, springsfor .normally retaining euch barrier in open position, means forretainingeuch barrier in closed position under-tension, and means forsimultaneously operating the retaining means.

8. In a deviceof the class described, side walls provided with front andrear posts, barriers pivotnlly mounted upon a front post, inennsforholding each barrier in closed position under tension, means forsimultaneously operating said holding means, a bracket provided with :istop lug to engage each barrier, and a latch adaptcdio automaticallyengage cach barrier and hold it in opcn position.

9. In a device' of thc class described, side walls provided with frontand rear posts, an extension upward from the front post. a bolt slidablymounted in said extension to project from the upper end thereof, aconnection extending downward from said bolt, and a crossbar pivotcdupon one extension and provided with an :ipertured free end to engagesaid bolt.

10. In a device oi' tbc. class described, side walls provided with postsat opposite ends, :i pivoi'ally mounted barrier upon onc of said posts,a lockingl rod disposed to cngage and retain said barrier in closedposition, u springl adapted to more said rod longitudinally, n pincarried by said rod to engag a fixed bearing, undf'moans for moving ing.

11. In a device of the class described, side walls provided witli postsat their opposite ends, a pvotally mounted barrier upon one of saidposts, a locking rod disposed to engage and retani said barrier inclosedposition, u spring -adapted to move said rod longitudinally, u collarcarried by said rod and provided with a pin extending paralleltherewith, a' fixed end bearing foi-'said rod provided with n projectionto normally engage said pin, and nu eye rnrricd Aby said collar by\vhicl1 said pin may be moved out of cngagement with said projection topermit longitudinal movement of said rod.

12. In a`device 'of the class described, side walls provided with frontand rear posts, a barrier carried by thc front postvu gate pivotallymounted upon thc rcnr postA and provided with a locking plate, apivol'ed lcvcr adapt ed to engage said plate, a hook to retain snldlcver in locked position, a tension .spring extending between the rearend of said lever and said hook, and an operating lever pivotallymounted upon the rear post und connected to said hook to releasethe samefrom said lever.

14. In a device of the class described, sido walls provided witli frontand rear posts, a barrier carried by tho front post, a gate pivotallymounted on the rcur post :ind providedwith a locking plate, a springlmounted upon said gate and engaging the post to automatically open thogate, a pivoted lever adapted to engage said plate, a hook said rod tothrow the pin-out of engagement with its bcarlosv to retain said leverin locked position, a tension spring extending between the rear end ofsaid lever and said hook, and an operating lever pivotally mounted uponthe rear post and connected to said hook to release the same from saidlever.

15. In a device of the class described, side walls, a barrier carriedthereby, a pivoting bracket at the lower portion thereof, and a pivotingsleeve at the upper portion adapted to be adjusted upon the supportingmember of said barrier.

1P. In a device of the class described, side walls provided with frontand rear posts, a barrier mounted upon one of the front posts andprovided with a retaining loop at its free end, a rod to engage saidloop, and means for roxiprncating said rod.

17. In a device of the class described, side-walls provided with frontand rear posts, a barrier mountedupon one of the front posts andprovided with a retaining loop at its free end, a rod to engagesaid'loop, a bearing upon said side wall for said rod', a collar securedto said rod, a

' spring extending between said bearing and collar, and a retainingdevice for normally retaining said spring under tension.

18. In a device of the class described, a plurality of side wallsforming independent stalls each provided with a piv- 5 oted springcontrolled barrier thereon adapted to engage an adjacent wall. A l 19.In a device of the class described, a plurality of independent parallelside walls forming a stall, an a'utomatically opening barrier pivotallymounted upon one wall and extending between thefront portions of saidwalls, means upon the adjacent wall for retaining and releasing saidbarrier, and means for operating said releasing means fromva pointremoved `therefrom.

20. In a device of the class described, a plurality of independentparallel side walls forming a stall, an automatically opening barrierpivotally mounted upon one`wall and extending between the front portionsof said walls, means upon the adjacent wall for retaining and releasingsaid barrier, means for operating said releasing means from a pointremoved therefrom, and an automatically opened end gate pvotally mountedon one of said walls to engage the opposite wall and close the rear of-the stall.

In .testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

DAVID STITZER.' Witnesses:

Hormon Gnmzs, M. C. GIBmNs.

